Question
An airplane's speed in still air is 240 km/h. (a) If the pilot wishes the resultant motion of the plane to be due north when a 60 km/h wind is blowing the plane due east, in what direction should the plane be headed? (b) What will then be the resultant speed of the airplane over the ground?
Answers
Steve
Draw a triangle. If the plane's speed due north is v, then
60^2 + v^2 = 240
direction θ such that sinθ = 60/240
60^2 + v^2 = 240
direction θ such that sinθ = 60/240